An ecological-thermodynamic approach to urban metabolism: Measuring resource utilization with open system network effectiveness analysis

Tan, Ling Min; Arbabi, Hadi; Brockway, Paul E.; Tingley, Danielle Densley; Mayfield, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113618

Cited by 23 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Other UM studies in Singapore include an analysis of phosphorus flows (Pearce and Chertow 2017), and stocks and flows of concrete and steel in residential buildings (Arora et al 2019). Beyond the analysis of material flows, system dynamics have been used to study urban resource flows (Abou-Abdo et al 2011) and water (Welling 2011), while Tan et al (2019) use exergy and ecological network analysis to study Singapore's resource effectiveness.…”

Section: A Case Study: the Metabolism Of Singaporementioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Metabolism

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Cheah

Arora

et al. 2021

The Urban Book Series

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Urban metabolism (UM) is fundamentally an accounting framework whose goal is to quantify the inflows, outflows, and accumulation of resources (such as materials and energy) in a city. The main goal of this chapter is to offer an introduction to UM. First, a brief history of UM is provided. Three different methods to perform an UM are then introduced: the first method takes a bottom-up approach by collecting/estimating individual flows; the second method takes a top-down approach by using nation-wide input–output data; and the third method takes a hybrid approach. Subsequently, to illustrate the process of applying UM, a practical case study is offered using the city-state of Singapore as an exemplar. Finally, current and future opportunities and challenges of UM are discussed. Overall, by the early twenty-first century, the development and application of UM have been relatively slow, but this might change as more and better data sources become available and as the world strives to become more sustainable and resilient.

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Section: A Case Study: the Metabolism Of Singaporementioning

confidence: 99%

Urban Metabolism

Derrible

Cheah

Arora

et al. 2021

The Urban Book Series

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“…However, such a formulation does provide a broad and portable definition that can in fact codify efficiency in resource performance in a variety of networks in an urban context. In maintaining consistency of language with Tan et al [21], we will continue to use the term 'effectiveness' in reference to the framework's performance metric. While the metric is in essence one of efficiency, the particular choice of language is to differentiate the metric from the commonly used system-wide efficiency measures within the exergy-focused literature that are calculated based on the ratio of outgoing to incoming extra-boundary resource flows [23,24].…”

Section: A Network Model Of Urban Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 1 shows a schematic of such a network where Δ i denotes extra-boundary flows into and out of vertex i, X W i the overall wasted flows at vertex i, X U i the beneficially used portion of the resource flow, and F ij the flow passed from vertex i to j. Following existing model set-ups [4,14,21,27], we enforce the overall relationship between edges, under flow equilibrium conditions, through the use of two disutility factors λ and ϕ. In our analytical presentation of these models, the parameters λ and ϕ regulate flow transformation processes taking place inside the vertices.…”

Section: A Network Model Of Urban Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As previously mentioned, we use the urban network framework developed by Tan et al [21]. This model and the broader family of which it is a member attempt to provide a benchmark for how well the resources available to cities are used [22].…”

Section: A Network Model Of Urban Flowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this paper, we present an analytical formulation and examination of a demand-driven network model that accounts for the 'effectiveness of resource utilization' which enables us to better frame the existing empirical efforts and provide a better understanding and prioritization of available policy levers in addressing resource management in cities. The model framework here is adopted from the work by Tan et al [21], which provides a typical exergy-based open system network assessment of 1 Moving forward, unless otherwise specified, we will use the term 'resource' to refer to the exergetic content and quality of both energetic and material flows. The use of the phrase 'urban systems' in this work is in reference to systems and processes of material and energetic flows within an urban context and should not be confused with the usage referring to 'systems of cities' within the body of work on urban scaling and complexity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On the use of random graphs in analysing resource utilization in urban systems

et al. 2020

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Urban resource models increasingly rely on implicit network formulations. Resource consumption behaviours documented in the existing empirical studies are ultimately by-products of the network abstractions underlying these models. Here, we present an analytical formulation and examination of a generic demand-driven network model that accounts for the effectiveness of resource utilization and its implications for policy levers in addressing resource management in cities. We establish simple limiting boundaries to systems' resource effectiveness. These limits are found not to be a function of system size and to be simply determined by the system's average ability to maintain resource quality through its transformation processes. We also show that resource utilization in itself does not enjoy considerable size efficiencies with larger and more diverse systems only offering increased chances of finding matching demand and supply between existing sectors in the system. Thermodynamically speaking, the rate of utilization of resources in cities is then subject to the quality of the imported resources, i.e. their exergetic content, as well as the efficiency of such systems in extracting the exergetic content in their processes [2].As cities grow in size and complexity, self-organizational behaviours that are typical of open thermodynamic systems emerge. These include diversifying intra-system interactions and increasing their intensity in order to more effectively process the increased energy intake [3]. Such behaviours provide the capacity for growth and expansion prompting cities to seek and destroy more exergetic content. Given the limited nature of resource supplies, this is typically better achieved by prolonging the chain of transformation processes within systems, i.e. keeping materials in systems for longer, which in turn increases their capacity in retaining and circulating quality resources through these longer chains [4,5]. For complex dissipative thermodynamic systems like cities, measuring this gradient of exergy destruction in the overall system serves as a performance indicator of the systems' capability to use resources they import and re-circulate [6]. This very quality is echoed in and underpins the working principles of circular economy where reduce, maintain, re-use, refurbish and recycle are incorporated to address the overextraction of resources through maximizing transformation efficiencies (reduce), keeping resource in use (maintain) and prolonging next-use chains (re-use, refurbish and recycle) through various strategies. Applying circular-economic principles not only relieves the demand on resource use, but also promotes system adaptations and product design for cutting waste and carbon emissions [7]. The essence of the circular economy is to retain the usefulness of resources through a hierarchy of strategies where higher levels of resource management such as maintenance to extend the current life are preferred, with reuse for a second life, and then repair and remanufacturing further down the ...

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Resource Effectiveness in and Across Urban Systems

Arbabi¹,

Tan²

2021

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures

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Resource effectiveness metrics quantify city-wide material and energy efficiency. In a thermodynamic formulation of material and energetic flows within and across cities, effectiveness of resource utilization and conversion reflect the efficiency of the city as a consumer and producer, respectively. These dimensionless metrics are based on the ratios of successfully utilized (effectiveness of utilization) or exported (effectiveness of conversion) biophysical resources to the total resources extracted or imported into the city, all measured in units of exergy.

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An ecological-thermodynamic approach to urban metabolism: Measuring resource utilization with open system network effectiveness analysis

Cited by 23 publications

References 76 publications

Urban Metabolism

Urban Metabolism

On the use of random graphs in analysing resource utilization in urban systems

Resource Effectiveness in and Across Urban Systems

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